New to this site and kinda in a jam...I realize there are a million posts about spark plug problems but I have a specific to me senereo I need help with.
Brief history: 2 weeks ago when I hit 102,600 miles, I took the truck to the dealer (Galpin Ford, Prescott AZ) to have them change spark plugs. They did the job, truck ran good for 200 miles (about 2 weeks) then all of a sudden the motor began to miss and the check engine light came on ( I thought I had a flat tire). Limped truck home and back to dealership. They said plug in #2 cyl. "damaged" and they replaced it and its fixed. When I went to pick it up, It sounded like a diesel motor, the knock was that bad. They told me it was normal, I said no way and refused to take truck. They put bore scope in it and said the piston is damaged due to detonation and said I need a new engine. I argued until I was blue in the face but they say they did not cause the problem. The truck is still there, they refuse to fix it, I don't know what to do next. Question: What could they have done that would damage piston and how do I prove it? Why would it be ok for 200 miles then not? What more damage could I cause if I drive it to another shop? Thank you very much

 

They could have dropped something into that cylinder. The head would have to be pulled to maybe find out. And, if they do it unsupervised, you may not get the correct answer. They probably would try to protect their liability.

 

Thanks Roadie, that's what I argued with the svc mgr, told him they must have dropped a piece of the spark plug porcelain or a piece of dirt, etc and it got down into ring land and damaged ring, maybe damaging the cyl. itself, his argument is that that didn't happen and the damage is due to "detonation" on high mileage motor...


I'm thinking the only way to prove anything one way or another is to pull motor apart. I think I'm going to have it tow'd home and then to another shop in hopes that cyl. isn't damaged and I can get away with ball hone cyl. and new piston and rings.


A friend of mine runs a engine machine shop in Phoenix and he thinks 4k
for removing, rebuild, and re-install is a ball park price...


Anyone know of a solid remanufactured motor company that they would personally recommend?


thanks everyone

 

Agree with Roadie.

I did a plug change on mine recently, I took all the plugs out and I F'd up and lots of crap fell into the cylinders(I know this is possible, trust me). If you push that extractor tool to far in it will break the strap off the electrodes and porcelain and/or electrode strap and/or electrode can fall in.

I panicked, and had the truck towed to the ford dealer and told them to fix what I messed up. $600 later they bore scoped every cylinder, vacuumed and blew out debris from the engine, and they cranked the motor by hand to ensure no binding.

10k miles later truck is still good.

Looks like your mechanic just man handled the truck and let that crap fall in the cylinders, and just let it go.

 

They can still deny it even if you pull the motor on this. My recommendation, is see how much money it will take to fix. Take pictures/mechanic statement and do the small claims court thing. Usually they will settle before trial. You need to check what the small claims limit it, not sure. If you can convince the judge then you'll get your money.

If it's over the small claims limit, you can either claim the max OR hire a lawyer and sue, but then your lawyer will eat most of it.

 

update: met tow truck at dealer, had truck towed home, they acted like they didn't know why this was happening so I told them I was taking it to independent 3rd party to take it party then I was going to take them to court....that prompted quick meeting with GM and a different svc mgr, we discussed for 15 minutes, they suggested I let them take the head off at their expense and then I and a 3rd party can come look at it with them (no charge to take head off) and if it is their fault, they will put new piston and rings and hone cyl. and put it all back together at their cost...this different svc mgr really seems like a good guy, only time will tell...I went for it, so I had the truck towed back so now its back at the dealership.... will keep you posted for those that are interested.
thanks much,
Bill

 

That sounds good! It would be great to have a witness present when they take the head off!

 

awesome, let us know how it turns out.

Hopefully it was the plug change, but they COULD be right and it's unrelated, so make sure your mechanic takes a good look, I would take pictures as well before anyone starts taking things apart.

 

2004 Ford F150 with 5.4 motor


Brief History:


Truck runsflawlessly since purchased, all scheduled service done timely and correctlyincluding using recommended motorcraft oil, never needed anything except tires,brakes, 2 blinker bulbs, and one window regulator.

at 102,600 miles, I took the truck to thedealer (Galpin Ford, Prescott AZ) to have them change spark plugs, boots, belt,coolant flush, transfer case, transmission, differentials, fuel filter,$1,800., they did the job, truck ran good. They said they also had to remap computer due to new plugs.


200 miles (about 2 weeks) later, whiletowing a trailer (nothing new, truck used to tow trailers before) all of asudden the motor began to miss and the flashing check engine light came on ( Ithought I had a flat tire). Dropped trailer, limped truck home and back todealership. One day later they said plug in #2 cyl. "damaged" andthey replaced it and its fixed.


When I went to pick it up, It sounded likea diesel motor, the knock was that bad. They told me it was normal, I said noway and refused to take truck.


The next day they put bore scope in thesame #2 cyl. That had the failed plug (pictured below) came out of and said thepiston is damaged due to “detonation” and said I need a new engine. I argued until I was blue in the face sayingthe 2 are related, dropped something in the cyl., didn’t torque plug, etc. butthey say they did not cause the problem.


I decided to take truck back so the nextday I show up with tow truck, met tow truck at dealer, had truck towed home,they acted like they didn't know why this was happening so I told them I wastaking it to independent 3rd party to take it party then I was going to takethem to court....that prompted quick meeting with GM and a different svc mgr,we discussed for 15 minutes, they suggested I let them take the head off attheir expense and then I and a 3rd party can come look at it with them (nocharge to take head off) and if it is their fault, they will put new piston andrings and hone cyl. and put it all back together at their cost...this differentsvc mgr really seems like a good guy, only time will tell...I went for it, so Ihad the truck towed back so now its back at the dealership


Attached are pictures of the new plug fromthe #2 hole that now has a damaged piston that they installed with 200 miles on it.


They are pulling head off now, my problemis how to argue that their work and this plug failure is what caused the pistondamage-obviously too hot-


Anyways, wanted to get these pictures upfor all to see,


Bill

 

Pics don't work.

 

plug pictures

 

I give up, I can't add pictures for some reason...at the moment trying to add pictures to this form is more frustrating than the problem

 

Click the Image icon in the reply box. It's the thing that looks like a mountain. Then either enter a URL if the pics are hosted, or Browse Your Device if they are on your phone or computer.

 

thanks, that is what I've been doing, it loads to 100% and can see picture, then I hit insert button and nothing happens....file size is 98.0KB


can anyone see the pictures using the link below?


http://s428.photobucket.com/user/Bil...y/?view=recent